Hey Folks,
Happy Labor Day Weekend - one of the most wholesome and least problematic American holidays, as far as I know. It’s an interesting weekend, astrologically, too - there’s a suitable burst of activity and sociability on Friday and Saturday, with the Moon in Aries trining Venus, followed by a chill stretch on Sunday and Monday, with the Moon in Taurus. Behind the scenes, though, there are important changes afoot - Venus is ending her retrograde on Sunday night, and Jupiter is starting his on Monday night.
Venus’s retrograde ending will be a relief to some and a cleanup call for others. I’ve seen a noticeable uptick in difficult romantic situations in my Sanctuary readings over the past couple of months (which is usually already common), with clear themes of yearning for a more noble, vibrant romantic life and having to swallow some pride and come to difficult self-understanding in working toward that. Venus’ position in Leo makes things more dramatic and personal; alongside the North Node in Aries, which is urging us into more fiery, aggressive ways of being, and the South Node in Libra, dredging up karma and conditioning in relationships, it’s a bit of a hectic environment. The end of Venus’ retrograde here is akin to getting to the bottom of something or being stripped down to your core, and then having to move forward from there. This could feel liberating and clarifying or vulnerable and daunting.
Jupiter’s retrograde is actually entwined with Venus’ story, as he’s both made two recent squares with Venus (and one more is on the way), and he’s currently in Taurus, the sign that Venus rules. This position highlights the part of Venus that has to do with our sense of taste, value, and self-worth. Venus, who is associated with the metal copper, is ideally highly conductive, connecting us to what we love, so Venus’ retrograde isn’t just about people but our senses and aesthetics, as well as our quality of creativity or even fertility. In a way, with Venus ending her retrograde and Jupiter starting his, this is almost like a torch-passing moment. Venus tells Jupiter what she really wants, needs, and has to give, and now Jupiter is responsible for seeing how that can happen.
With Jupiter in Taurus this year, there’s a possibility for substantial material growth and a recognition of the rich qualities of life that exist within the material sphere, even if this sometimes leads to overestimation or overconsumption. Likewise, it could feel like we have a great gift within us that’s struggling to gestate and be born. In the arc of Jupiter’s journey through Taurus since May 15th, this is a turnaround point: What steps have we skipped? What seeds or potentials have we not given life to yet? What has so far become overgrown and needs to be trimmed back? Jupiter spends about a third of the year retrograde; this one will last till December 30th. In this regard, it gives an extra charge for forward movement in the New Year. It might take until then to assess this summer’s harvest and clean up/organize for the next phase, so take it slow and easy.
This weekend, Mercury will also be in an exact trine with Jupiter, signifying a good opportunity to sort through and grok what’s going on in the garden of your life. With Mercury retrograde in Virgo, this is happening already, but the trine to Jupiter helps us zoom out to a bigger scale, rather than getting caught in the weeds. Jupiter, who is the archetypal teacher to Mercury as a student, also probably has a few tools, tips, and tricks, even if he’s not as jovial as he usually is. Going in the other direction, Mercury can also help Jupiter focus on the details and take care of the little tasks. Sometimes, it’s easier to see the big picture when the fires are put out and the house is clean. In other expressions of this archetypal pair, it could just be a weekend of lively conversation or big thoughts, as well as a good time to speak with someone wise. These two are in a loose trine through the rest of Mercury’s retrograde. It will be exact again on September 25th.
Mercury’s retrograde will have its midpoint on Wednesday the 6th at 6:08 a.m. CST. This is Mercury’s day, and the Moon will be in Gemini: such a dignified moment for Mercury would be great to celebrate, either at sunrise or noon, with something intentional - ritual, meditation, prayer, journaling, a long walk, or simply a stab at something tricky you’re working on. Extra points if you wear green, yellow, or contrasting colors and draw Mercury’s glyph somewhere, visibly or in your mind’s eye.
Before I get to the play-by-play through the next couple of weeks for my lovely paid subscribers, a reminder for those interested that Olivia Pepper and I will be leading another cohort through Charting the Artist’s Way this fall, starting on October 6th. You can sign up for that at starpoetry.net. As always, you’re also invited to reach out for personal readings at astrologyally.com.